Retribution

It had been over a year since Sub Zero had been to Outworld. But even after all this time he remembered his way around. The Living Forest, the Rivers of Blood and finally the Palace of Outworld.

He saw many of Kotal's bone armored soldiers all around. But none of them would stop him, whether they came in dozens of thousands. But none stopped him or even tried to approach him. Perhaps he was giving off an icy aura that none which to be involved with.

So he entered into the Palace ready to start his search. He imagined the Throne Room would be a good place to start. And standing at the door to the Throne Room was the first familiar face.

"Grand Master!" Reptile said. The upper ends of his cheeks curled up, a smile forming under his mask." It does me well to see you here. You left so abruptly last time."

"Reptile." Kaui said." Is Kitana in there?" He pointed to the big wooden doors behind him. Reptile glanced at the door then back at Kaui.

"Yes." He hissed." But she can wait. Ermac will wish to see you as well. Follow me-"

"No Reptile. I have come to see Kitana."

"The Emperor and Empress do not wish to be disturbed." Reptile told.

"Reptile." Kaui said." Please. Please allow me to pass." The Zateran looked down at the Grand Master. They had fought together and both had sworn a vow to Kitana. And although Sub Zero had been released from his vow Reptile was not.

He turned his yellow eyes in one direction and then the other.

"I wish you could have come sooner Grand Master." He said laying a hand on his shoulder." It looks like I just missed you." Without another word he turned and walked away. And the last Kaui saw of him was his retreating figure around the corner.

Now no one stood in his path. He put both hands forward and with little force he pushed the doors open. And when the doors opened and he entered inside all eyes fell on him.

Directly in front of him Kaui could see the Emperor and soon to be Empress. She looked the same as the last time he had seen her. Covering her body was a dress of silk, stretching down her long legs with a spikey headdress.

"You?" Kotal questioned surprised to see the Grand Master walking across his throne room.

"Yes." Kaui answered in his gravely deep voice. He looked to Kitana and she was surprised by his sudden appearance. But this was an awkward situation to say the least.

"Uh Welcome." Kotal said." Welcome. You are a friend to my wife." He reached over and put his hand over Kitana's. And Kaui did not like that. His eyes squinted as he grinded his teeth.

"What brings you here Grand Master?" Kitana asked. Her voice was as sweet and musical as Kaui remembered. It gave him the courage for what would come next.

"I swore I would make you Empress." He said to her." And I mean to honor that debt." He turned from her and to her husband to be." Kotal Kahn!" he pointed to him." Face me in Mortal Kombat!" His voice echoed all around the halls.

But he didn't seem to be taken seriously.

"Your cause is just." Kotal said." But your Princess will be Empress it will be done in only a few days' time."

"No." Kaui said." I pledged to have her and only her sit on the Throne in Outworld. The Throne her Father sat on." He put one leg out before the other, twisting his body and put his fists up." Face me!"

With each passing second it was clear the Grand Master was serious with his threat.

Kotal turned and looked at his wife. And for the first time in over a year he could not understand what was going on inside her head. Would she agree with the Grand Master? Would she change her mind after all this time? After all this time he tried to make her happy. Maybe a show of force would remind her.

"Very well Grand Master." Kotal roared rising to his feet." The Emperor accepts your challenge."

Kotal pulled out his knife and lunged forward, trying to stab Kaui right in the eyes. Kaui put up both his arms and managed to grab onto Kotal's arm, stopping him. The two grunted and groaned as they pushed against each other.

Together both took a step back and Kotal wasted no time in trying to slashed at Sub Zero again. But the Grand Master swung out his hand and punched away the knife. Now it was down to hand to hand. And all the while Kitana sat watching from the throne.

Kotal raised both his hands to the sky and almost immediately Kaui could feel the heat rising. The heat seemed to be coming from the sky above, the ground below and even Kotal's body. Kaui took in a deep, huffed breath.

Kotal then swung both arms forward. And looking above Kaui saw the bright, golden rays of the sun shooting down from the sky and at him.

Slow enough to dodge Kaui raised up his arms and began forming an ice wall above himself. The sun's light hit against the ice and began melting it into water. But Kaui continued to add more ice, if he didn't he'd be vaporized.

Kotal then took the pressure off Kaui. The Grand Master then quickly went from defense to offense. He took a step forward and swung his arms. Sending his former shield flying at his enemy like canon fire.

But Kotal simply swung his hands forward and clapped them together, shattering the ice like glass. Kaui himself jumped forward now, coming down and taking Kotal down. He landed one punch as they went to the ground and a second as they rolled around. Kaui managed to get on top and landed another punch. This time breaking the skin and forcing the Emperor to bleed.

Kotal was bleeding across the face. Kaui reached down and tried to grab him as Kotal tried to get him off. But sitting there as he glared down at his foe Kaui saw something.

The blood poured out of the wound on his cheek and rolled down his cheek. But then he evaporated and sunk into his skin. And the blood and wound healed itself.

The Osh-Tekk had two sources for their power. One was the sun which would give them power so long as it was in the sky. But the second thing from which they could get power was from blood.

And when Kotal first went to Earth made a lot of blood. They knew him as Buluc a God of War.

The blood melted into his skin, giving him new strength. He put his hand onto Kaui's chest and with one great push knocked him up and into the air.

But he was sent farther than that as he went crashing through the ceiling and into the room above. The Kahn was right after him, crashing through the same spot Kaui had went to and stood above him.

And Kotal came swinging down with another great punch. But Kaui put up both his arms and blocked the blow. Although the hit sent him flying back down and back into the throne room.

Slowly he pushed his arms against the ground, trying to get back to his feet. Looking up he saw Kitana was still in her throne and looking at him.

"Stay down." She pleaded." If you stay down he'll let you live."

"No." Kaui grunted as he pushed himself onto his feet." I can't."

"Why?"

Kaui made as if he might answer but Kotal's reappearance stopped that. He heard a slam behind him and the floor shake beneath him. Turning around he saw Kotal Kahn standing there.

"You should never have come back Lin Kuei." he said. Kotal held out his hand and from it blasted a ray of light. Kaui was tired and unprepared. The light came at him faster than he could dodge and it blasted a hole right through his stomach.

The Grand Master fell back onto the ground. He brought both his hands up to the wound and with a blast of ice froze it before he bleed out. He tried to get back on his feet after that. Ready to push himself back into the fight.

But Kotal was already on him. Slamming his foot down on Kaui's shoulder, pinning him to the ground. And looking up Kaui saw the Emperor's hand glowing with sunlight as he prepared to shot another blast down at him.

But he was stopped before he could. A blue blur flew between them. And one moment Kotal's hand was glowing with sunlight, the next it was on the floor in a bloodied mess.

"AH!" Kotal roared as he stumbled back holding his stunted arm." You?!" He yelled. Kaui turned his head to see that Kitana had risen from her throne, drawing out both her fans just having thrown one.

"Yes." She answered as the fan came back into her hand. To Kotal's surprise she turned her attention from him and began walking away.

"You're not going to kill me?" Kotal questioned.

"No." Kitana answered." That's not the kind of Empress I want to be." She glanced back at Kaui Lang on the floor.

At that moment the door burst open and Kotal's special forces, two Kytinn with Wraith Blood. But they had no sooner set foot in the door than another come on the scene.

Reptile burst in behind them stabbing his claws through the chest of one. Ermac appeared nearby and with a wave of his hands split the other in two. When the brief struggle concluded Kotal had no allies once again.

"You've made a big mistake." Kotal grunted." You haven't seen the last of me. I will be back." He grumbled." And I will take back for what is mine." Without another word he disappeared in a cloud of ash and smoke.

Kitana wasted no time in bending down and tending to Sub Zero. He took a few deep, heavy breaths as his head rolled to the right. Kitana reached down and put her hand on the right side of his face. Gaining his attention and forcing him to turn his head to her.

"Kaui." She said.

"Empress." Kaui said in a quick voice. His breaths were short, his eyes barely open.

"Kitana, you can call me Kitana."

"Kitana." He said in a whisper." You asked me Why? "She had to lean in to listen, his voice growing softer and more strained by the second." Why I fight." He went silent a few seconds and Kitana thought he might not speak again. But after gaining some strength he did. "My whole life all I ever did was fight. Fought for the Lin Kuei, fought my brother, fought who I was. This was the only time in my life that I fought for someone other than myself." He lifted his hand up and touched her cheek. She reached up with her other hand and pressed it against her face." This was my chance to redeem myself."

Ermac and Reptile crossed over the room. With each step they observed the scene with even more caution.

"And you did so." Kitana told him." You did so." She continued to grip his hand against her face until he didn't have the strength to hold it on his own.

The End